Favorites ascending. Photo: Gruber Images.
As many of you know, I write a monthly column for Cyclist Magazine where I answer Dear Abby-esque questions, and the most recent query pertained to whether I consider the Tour the best race of the year, or whether it’s an over-publicized circus. The question made me realize something about myself: I have a weariness around the Tour de France not unlike a romantic whose heart has been broken one too many times.
The fact is, as much as I prefer a race like Paris-Roubaix or the Giro d’Italia to the mid-summer shit show that is the Tour de France, nothing gets my anticipation going quite the way the Tour does, which is undeniably the pinnacle of the season; all the classifications and stages are prestigious enough that racers of all sorts are all arriving at the start in peak form. There is a promise of hard racing from day one, but the first week consists mostly of me worrying about the big favorites crashing out. As soon as we get through that mess, my heart is usually broken on the first day in the mountains, when the favorite takes a decisive lead and the rest of the race is most about stages than the GC.
At least, these are the dreads of a man who lived through the Indurain and Armstrong eras of racing.
Nevertheless, the Tour always manages to seduce me, and this year is no different. Maybe this year, she won’t be such a cruel lover. And, maybe this year, I won’t make horrible picks in the VSP. Just maybe, just maybe. You know the drill; get your picks in by the time the clock goes to zero, and you get some swap options on the rest day. Good luck!
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@TheVid
Unless we have another outbreak of Terry Pratchett coming round.
@wiscot
Here is hoping that Aru and Martin can animate what is setting up to be another Sky snooze fest. Regarding the Maillot vert, I am looking forward to an interesting competition and hope anyone but Demare or Bouhanni wins. Nothing against the hosts but I just don't think either of these sprinters are Rule #43 compliant.
Maillot vert
@wiscot
Yep, great attack, and he looked fantastic. Never been a big fan - his descending efforts in the 2015 Giro, among others, brings back memories of several face-palm moments - but I love the way he goes after it when he feels good. During the Giro, I learned of the amazing lengths he went to to get enough racing as a junior, travel wise, and that increased my respect for the guy. He certainly isn't lacking in the heart department. Was great to see Martin finish so strongly, too. That's gotta boost his confidence for a good result.
Froome's little blistering turn of speed looked ominous. Porte looked good too, apart from grinding that big gear again when he took over. Contador and Quintana looked tired. A lot of folks aren't fond of the course, but I liked the TT start - if you didn't show up ready, you were gonna lose time and couldn't just build up slowly til the last half of the tour. And there looks to be a lot in it for the more punchy riders. I think the GC might be more interesting than some expected. Hope so
Chaves lost some big time. Form was unknowable, but I thought he might be in with a chance for top 5. I picked him in lieu of Aru. Doh!
@Rick
Today was great racing and a lesson in style too. Aru looked awesome in the Italian champs jersey, white socks, white shoes and regular shorts. No garish "I'm the Italian Champ tricolor turd" in sight. Alas, however, Dan Martin just looks kinda crappy in comparison. His Mavic shoes, while they match the Lidl sponsor logo, look awful.
Nice too to see Aru looking super happy on the podium, Geraint Thomas looked pretty fuckin' miserable most of the time he was in yellow.
A shout out too for Phil Gil who won the award for combativity and wearing a proper cap on the podium.
@stooge
I hear ya. I've got Chaves and wee Nairo in my top 5. Might be using some swaps next week.
@stooge
And, though the green jersey comp may turn out to be an exciting one, in twenty years time, rightly or wrongly, whoever wins it will be recalled as the guy who won it that year Sagan was DQd. So whoever wins it better win it real good.
@stooge
To finish first, first you have to finish.
Funny enough Slovak TV bought the rights for airing whole stages and Slovaks are so pissed off that no one wants to watch Tour de "Fraud" anymore... Conspiracies about "French wanted a French Green jersey winner, but they had to eliminate Sagan first, DD owner part of the TdF organizers team, etc..." are all around.
As I see this, the long series of Cav sending fellow sprinters to the deck was finally punished as expected. Only a pity that Peter got the bill. He wanted 7 consecutive Maillot vert trophy and that feat is apparently over.
@Pali65
There are all kinds of crazy conspiracy theories getting around about Sagans DQ, let alone opinions of the incident itself, and from all corners of the globe. I was just reading about how it is the French and the English that are conspiring behind the scenes. It is a reminder of how much reach the TDF has, and that a huge part of the audience only really follow racing once a year (a fact not forgotten in the DQ decision itself, I'm sure). It's all quite amusing.
@wiscot, @Buck Rogers, @stooge let's just get one thing clear. While Aru's bike, kit & accessory choices are all correct ingredients for looking fantastic, none of that makes up for the horrific manner in which he actually drives the bike along.
He makes Froome's stem staring, spider humping a lightbulb, pedalling action look attractive!